Anyway, switch-hitting was rare until about the '70s. It's not very common right now. I'd say maybe 1 in 15 ballplayers are switch-hitters, and most of those aren't very good from one side or the other. That explains why you can't think of too many good ones.

omar vizquel? he's pretty good, although he had an off year last season.

AsInWreck

02-12-2002, 04:52 PM

Originally posted by guillen4life13
omar vizquel? he's pretty good, although he had an off year last season.

Spoken like a true Ozzie fan.

ChiSoxFann

02-12-2002, 05:05 PM

Lance Berkmen?

MattSharp

02-12-2002, 05:08 PM

Eventually I think you will include the following:

Lance Berkman
Jose Cruz
Jose Vidro

These along with Chipper are probably the best switch hitters right now.

Spiff

02-12-2002, 05:24 PM

Carl Everett also hits from both sides.

AsInWreck

02-12-2002, 07:13 PM

"...switching hitting was rare until about the 70s..."

You guys are horrible, I can't belive you would spread such vicious rumors w/ out offering a shred
of evidence. I'm sure most if not all of these guys are totally straight. Where are you getting this information, defamation of character is unethical, i hope you know

ode to veeck

02-12-2002, 07:18 PM

don kessinger wasn't the greatst hitter most of his career

i saw murray hit homers from both sides of the plate one day in windlestick (west coast home of the real "hawk")--actually tied mantle that day for doing the feat five times career

how bout manos, doesn't have all that great average on the weak side, but man I love his clutch hits there

Spiff

02-12-2002, 07:38 PM

Originally posted by AsInWreck
"...switching hitting was rare until about the 70s..."

You guys are horrible, I can't belive you would spread such vicious rumors w/ out offering a shred
of evidence. I'm sure most if not all of these guys are totally straight. Where are you getting this information, defamation of character is unethical, i hope you know

Who's character is he defaming? Switch hitters before the 70's?

ode to veeck

02-12-2002, 07:58 PM

How about George Davis of 1906 world champs Sox--helped upset the flubbies

20 seasons w/lifetime 297 ba, notable stat years include:

2nd in AL in '93 for triples with 27
2nd in AL in '93 for SLG with 554
2nd in AL in '97 for HRs with 10
1st in AL in '97 for Ribbies with 136

and

1st in AL in '91 for saves with 5 --this one has to be an error by baseball-reference.com--no pitching stats shown anywhere for George

listed as switch hitter

Davis began his career as an outfielder in Cleveland, but was traded to the Giants in 1893 for future Hall of Famer Buck Ewing. Primarily a third baseman his first four years in New York, he became a full-time shortstop in 1897. He was the Giants' player-manager for part of 1895, and again from mid-1900 through 1901.

His anti-establishment stance in 1903 may have cost Davis consideration for the Hall of Fame (made it via vets in 1998) . Davis was an outstanding hitter (he batted over .300 for nine consecutive seasons with the Giants), and an even better fielder, during a time when the National League was bitterly divided and corrupt. His problems began after the 1902 season, his first with the White Sox. Dissatisfied with Charles Comiskey's pay structure, Davis elected to jump back to the National League Giants. When peace was declared between the two warring leagues early in 1903, Davis was "awarded" to the White Sox, but he had other ideas. He sat out the season until John Brush, president of the National League, sanctioned an illegal scheme hatched by the Giants to regain Davis. After four games in a Giant uniform, Davis was served with an injunction. John Montgomery Ward, the famous baseball lawyer, represented Davis in court, and his efforts were supported by Brush, who filed a counter-suit to keep Davis in the NL. On July 15, 1903 the case was thrown out, and peace was restored in baseball.

April 26, 1900: On their way to the Polo Grounds, New York Giants George Davis, Kid Gleason, and Mike Grady spot smoke rising from an apartment building and rush to help with the rescue. Davis climbs a fireman's ladder to rescue a woman who fainted in the heat, and Gleason and Davis help a woman and child down a fire escape. Forty five families are left homeless from the major blaze. Then the trio, with Davis stroking a triple, help the Giants tie Boston 5-5 after nine innings, then rally with a five spot to tie again in the bottom of the 10th.

» September 14, 1900: At the Polo Grounds, the Giants pull off the first triple play of the 20th century. Jack Doyle, George Davis and Kid Gleason do the deed. It'll be another 10 years before a trifecta is pulled off in the NL.

» July 8, 1901: Player-manager George Davis leads the Giants to a 9-3 win over Cincinnati with four hits, including two inside-the-park homers, and four runs RBIs.

ode to veeck

02-12-2002, 08:06 PM

Red Schoendienst
289 BA lifetime in 19 seasons from 40s to 60s
in war year league of '45 lead the league with 25 SBs
same year the flubbies got jinx'd in the series by billie goat

ode to veeck

02-12-2002, 08:19 PM

Frank Francis Frisch (The Fordham Flash)
316 lifetime ba in 19 seasons w/nyg/st louis
419 sb and 105hr career in the high range for his day '19-'37

ode to veeck

02-12-2002, 08:27 PM

now for more recent, how bout ... Willie Wilson (used to love to jeer him from the club seats in upper deck rf in old comiskey)

285 lifetime ba in 19 seasons, including 668 SB career
83 SB in '79 and 230 H in '80, 332 ba in '82 all league leaders

golden glove OF in '80

lead league in triples 5 different years, later we learned why he was going so fast all the time ...

overpaid by the flubbies at $700k/yr in '93-'94

ode to veeck

02-12-2002, 08:31 PM

roberto (spits out of both sides of his mouth) alomar- (couldn't resist even though winning-ugly listed in lead post)

ode to veeck

02-12-2002, 08:34 PM

vince coleman, who could forget 326 steals is his 1st three seasons

ode to veeck

02-12-2002, 08:49 PM

bernie williams, how'd we forget him, maybe cause the d-backs pulled off the series , i dunno

ode to veeck

02-12-2002, 08:50 PM

how bout rock hudson, yuk yuk :o:

Daver

02-12-2002, 09:04 PM

Originally posted by ode to veeck
how bout rock hudson, yuk yuk :o:

Low blow Ode.

Funny though.:redneck

ode to veeck

02-12-2002, 09:07 PM

another comment on eddie murray, I always thought he was one of the most underrated players of his era, not just a HR hitter as >3200 hits career

ode to veeck

02-12-2002, 09:10 PM

another noted asterisk on a key switch hitter: Tim Raines >70 SB in the strike shortened 1/2 season ('81 his rookie year)

ode to veeck

02-12-2002, 09:20 PM

one last one then I go eat:

max (scoops) carey did 20 seasons with pirates, dodgers '10-'29

738 career SB (7th all-time), lead league 10 times
285 career BA

ode to veeck

02-12-2002, 09:22 PM

OK , one more, the other "ozzie", Ozzie Smith, not bad BA, decent OBP and SB over career made him legit run production pain in the a__

ode to veeck

02-12-2002, 09:33 PM

Ok last one, a trivia question:

Mantle and Murray are extra unusual in that switch hitters are even rarer among HR hitters. Besides Chili Davis, who else in the top 100 all time HR list is a switch hitter?

answer after dinner

WinningUgly!

02-13-2002, 12:32 AM

Originally posted by ode to veeck
vince coleman, who could forget 326 steals is his 1st three seasons

Too bad he couldn't steal 1st base! :D:

WinningUgly!

02-13-2002, 12:39 AM

Originally posted by ode to veeck
Ok last one, a trivia question:

Mantle and Murray are extra unusual in that switch hitters are even rarer among HR hitters. Besides Chili Davis, who else in the top 100 all time HR list is a switch hitter?

answer after dinner

Reggie Smith? :?:

DrCrawdad

02-13-2002, 02:08 AM

Originally posted by ode to veeck
how bout rock hudson, yuk yuk :o:

How 'bout Steve Stone?

Spiff

02-13-2002, 05:24 AM

Originally posted by ode to veeck
how bout rock hudson, yuk yuk :o:

LMAO

ode to veeck

02-13-2002, 02:02 PM

winning ugly--you're correct, the answer is Reggie Smith

WinningUgly!

02-14-2002, 01:44 AM

Originally posted by ode to veeck
winning ugly--you're correct, the answer is Reggie Smith

Whoo-Hoo! What's my prize? The home version of the WSI board game? :D: